• Title/Summary/Keyword: health impacts

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The Effects of the Brain Education Meditation Program on Self-Regulated Learning Ability and the Academic Self-Efficacy of Elementary School Students (뇌교육명상프로그램이 초등학생의 자기조절학습능력과 학업적 자기효능감에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Dae-Myung
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.77-84
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    • 2016
  • This study is intended to identify the impacts the Brain Education Meditation Program have on elementary school students' self-regulated learning ability and the academic self-efficacy, This study aims to answer these three questions: First, is the Brain Education Meditation Program effective in improving self-regulated learning abilities of elementary school students? Second, is the Brain Education Meditation Program effective in improving the academic self-efficacy of elementary school students? Third, is there any positive correlation between the Self-Regulated learning ability and the academic self-efficacy of elementary school students? The data analysis results showed as follows: The Program thereby changes the self-regulated learning ability of the students. Second, it has improved the self-confidence, which is a sublevel factor of academic self-efficacy, of the elementary school students who participated in the Brain Education Meditation Program. Third, there exists the positive correlation between self-regulated learning ability and academic self-efficacy.

Land Use Regression Model for Assessing Exposure and Impacts of Air Pollutants in School Children (Land Use Regression 모델을 이용한 수도권 초등학교 대기오염 노출 분석)

  • Lee, Ji-Young;Leem, Jong-Han;Kim, Hwan-Cheol;Hwang, Seung-Sik;Jung, Dal-Young;Park, Myung-Sook;Kim, Jung-Ae;Lee, Je-Joon;Park, No-Wook;Kang, Sung-Chan
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.28 no.5
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    • pp.571-580
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    • 2012
  • Epidemiologic studies of air pollution need accurate exposure assessments at unmonitored locations. A land use regression (LUR) model has been used successfully for predicting traffic-related pollutants, although its application has been limited to Europe, North America, and a few Asian region. Therefore, we modeled traffic-related pollutants by LUR then examined whether LUR models could be constructed using a regulatory monitoring network in Metropolitan area in Korea. We used the annual-mean nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) in 2010 in the study area. Geographic variables that are considered to predict traffic-related pollutants were classified into four groups: road type, traffic intensity, land use, and elevation. Using geographical variables, we then constructed a model to predict the monitored levels of $NO_2$. The mean concentration of $NO_2$ was 30.71 ppb (standard deviation of 5.95) respectively. The final regression model for the $NO_2$ concentration included five independent variables. The LUR models resulted in $R^2$ of 0.59. The mean concentration of $NO_2$ of elementary schools was 34.04 ppb (standard deviation of 5.22) respectively. The present study showed that even if we used regulatory monitoring air quality data, we could estimate $NO_2$ moderately well. These analyses confirm the validity of land use regression modeling to assign exposures in epidemiological studies, and these models may be useful tools for assessing health effects of long-term exposure to traffic related pollution.

Predictors of Weight Control Behavior According to College Students' BMI, Perception of Body Shape, Obesity Stress, and Self-Esteem (대학생의 체질량지수, 체형인식, 비만스트레스, 자아존중감에 따른 체중조절행동 예측요인)

  • Kim, Jong-Im
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.438-448
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    • 2016
  • This study was conducted to identify factors influencing the weight control behavior of college students. The subjects included college students in the C area, and data were collected through a self reported structured questionnaire from Dec 01 to 20 of 2015. Overall, 289 subjects were analyzed. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The findings showed a prominent distortion of college students' perceptions of their bodies based on evaluation by others and obesity stress, which had special impacts on their weight control behavior. Weight control behavior, body self-awareness (r=.31, p<0.001), assessment of body by others (r=.30, p<0.001), and obesity stress (r=.43, p<0.001) were closely related to their weight control behavior. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that their weight control behavior was closely influenced by obesity stress (${\beta}=.37$, p<0.001) and assessment of body by others (${\beta}=.15$, p=0.009). These variables accounted for 20% of the weight control behavior (F=37.30, p<0.001). Overall, assessment of body by others and obesity stress were found to be predictors of their weight control behavior. These findings indicate that it is necessary to develop and implement information programs and design appropriate prevention programs that can induce healthy weight control behaviors. Such programs should include health education, as well as intervention programs to identify such predictors and help college students judge and perceive their body shapes objectively so that they control their weight in a proper manner.

Critical Evaluation of and Suggestions for the VOCs Measurement Method Established as the Korean Indoor Air Quality Standard Method (실내공기질 공정시험법 중 VOCs 측정방법의 문제점 고찰 및 개선방안에 관한 연구)

  • Ye, Jin;Jung, Dong-Hee;Baek, Sung-Ok
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.586-599
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    • 2014
  • During the last two decades, indoor air quality and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been of concern in Korean society due to their nature of potential health impacts. In order to investigate the pollution levels of VOCss in indoor environments, establishment of a solid test method for monitoring the airborne VOCss is essential. In Korea, a method based on adsorbent sampling and GC analysis coupled with thermal desorption was proclaimed as the Korea Standard Method for Indoor Air Quality Test. This study was carried out to examine some inherent problems of the VOCs measurement method. The VOCs method does not describe in detail preparing the standard samples. The standard samples may be prepared by impregnation of either liquid standard solutions or a mixture of standard gases. In this study, we investigated the optimal temperature condition for transferring the liquid standards onto a standard adsorbent tube. As a result, keeping the impregnation temperature at $250^{\circ}C$ will be recommended in regard of the boiling points of multiple target analytes and the thermal stability of the adsorbent. We also demonstrated some problems associated with handling of a syringe used for transferring the standard solutions onto the adsorbent tubes, and a best way to get rid of the syringe problems was suggested. Finally, a number of field works were conducted to evaluate the performance of adsorbent sampling methods. Comparison of different adsorbent tubes, i.e. tube packed with single sorbent (Tenax) and double sorbents (Tenax with Carbotrap), revealed that 30 to 40% differences between the two groups, implying that sampling efficiency is depending on the volatility and the strength of adsorbents. However, duplicate precisions for VOCs sampling with a same type of adsorbent and at same flow rates appeared to be satisfactory to be all within 20%, which is a quality control guideline. Distributed volume precisions were also found to be within a guideline value, 25%, although the precision was in general inferior to the duplicate precision. The Korea indoor VOCs test method should be more refined and improved in many aspects, particularly procedure and instrumentation for preparing the standard samples and specification of quality control assessment.

The Effects of Innovator's DNA on the Innovative Strategy in SMEs (중소기업 경영자의 혁신DNA와 혁신전략에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Seung Ho;Bae, Seung Hyun;Jun, In;Park, Jong Ho;Son, Kang Ho
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.199-212
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    • 2014
  • Recently, there are increasing to the interest in the organizational innovation DNA as the innovation origin and these interest mainly were approached through the case analysis of global innovative companies. The purpose of study is to investigate the applicability under the CEO of SMEs settings as global companies' cases. The research focused on the impact of innovator's DNA on innovative strategy by the empirical study that analyzed from 110 firm's data in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region. The results of empirical study, innovator's DNA has positive effects on the overall innovative strategy, especially the effects of discovery DNA are stronger than operational DNA. Included to the discovery DNA effects, operational DNA bring about negative on the product differentiation, though it has positive on the market differentiation. In terms of components of innovator's DNA, the questioning and association have strong impacts on the overall innovative strategy, and analyzing has positive on market differentiation, but specific task implementation has negative on the product differentiation. The results suggest that the logic of global innovation case is possible to the SME's CEO and need to learning efforts to promote discovery DNA for successful innovation.

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Determinants of Length of Stay in Geriatric Hospitals - Focused on Alzheimer Dementia's Inpatients (요양병원 입원 알츠하이머 치매노인의 재원일수 결정요인 분석)

  • Bang, Hyo-Jung;Lee, Kwang-Soo
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.13 no.12
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    • pp.900-909
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    • 2013
  • This study purposed to analyze the determinants of length of stay for patients having alzheimer dementia in geriatric hospitals. Sample data was collected from the National Patient Sample (NPS) produced by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) in 2009. Total 538 alzheimer inpatients over 65 years were used in the analysis. Patients were classified into 5 risk groups to represent the case-mix differences of patients. Organizational characteristics of geriatric hospitals such as number of beds, doctors, and nurses were included in the analysis model. In multivariate regression analysis, hospital variables were not statistically significant in explaining the length of stay. Two risk group were statistically significant in analysis, However, their signs of relationship with the dependent variable were opposite to the expectations. These results suggest that the characteristics of patients and hospitals did not have impacts on the length of stay. There will be needs to test the effects of other factor such as social needs which represents the socio-economic status of the family for the patients.

Rainfed Areas and Animal Agriculture in Asia: The Wanting Agenda for Transforming Productivity Growth and Rural Poverty

  • Devendra, C.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.122-142
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    • 2012
  • The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

Persistent Organic Pollution and Arsenic Contamination in Asia Pacific Water: Case Study of Emerging Environmental Problems in Vietnam

  • Pham, Viet.H.
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.79-89
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    • 2007
  • This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

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Impacts of Chemical Properties on Microbial Population from Upland Soils in Gyeongnam Province (경남지역 밭 토양 화학성분이 미생물 생태에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Young-Han;Ha, Sang-Keun
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.44 no.2
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    • pp.242-247
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    • 2011
  • Soil management for environment-friendly agriculture depends on the effects of soil microbial activities and soil fertility. To improve soil health for the upland crops, this study evaluated a relationship between soil chemical properties and soil microbial diversities at 25 sites in upland soils in Gyeongnam Province. The average nutrients in the upland soils were 1.7 times for available phosphorous, 1.4 times for exchangeable potassium and 1.5 times for exchangeable calcium higher compared to recommend concentrations in the upland soils. We found a significant positive correlation between the soil organic matter and the soil microbial biomass C (p<0.01). Contents of organic matter and dehydrogenase in the inclined piedmont soils were significantly higher than those in the other topographical soils (p<0.05). In addition, concentrations of organic matter and microbial biomass C in the loam soils were significantly higher than in the silt loam soils (p<0.05). In principal component analyses of chemical properties and microbial populations in the upland soils, our findings suggested that available phosphorous should be considered as potential factor responsible for the clear upland soils differentiation. The soil organic matter was positive correlation with Bacillus sp. and fungi, whereas soil pH was also positive correlation with Pseudomonas sp. in upland soils.

Characteristics of Stabilization of Excavated Solid Wastes by Aerobic and Anaerobic Landfilling (호기 및 혐기매립에 의한 굴착폐기물의 안정화 특성 연구)

  • Park, Jin-Kyu;Oh, Dong Ik;Lee, Nam-Hoon
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.76-85
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    • 2004
  • Anaerobic decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW) had potential adverse impacts such as the production of methane and long-term post closure on human health and the environment. It was demonstrated that aerobic degradation of MSW resulted in the reduction of a methane yield and the enhancement of stabilization of MSW. Excavated solid wastes were both aerobically and anaerobically treated in order to evaluate the effects of air injection on the stabilization of landfill site. The municipal solid waste (MSW) samples were excavated from a 10-year old landfill (operation period: 1991. 11~1994. 11), Jeonju, Korea. Excavated municipal solid wastes are primarily composed of soils and vinyl/plastics. For the two aerobic simulated lysimeters, the levels of $O_2$ ranged 1.6~23.1% and the levels of $CO_2$ ranged 1.5~15.1%, which confirmed the aerobic decomposition. Aeration did prevent methane formation. For the anaerobic simulated lysimeter, the $CO_2$ rose as $O_2$ was consumed and low levels of CH4 were produced. The pH levels ranged from 7.7 to 8.9 for anaerobic lysimeter and from 7.3 to 8.5 for aerobic lysimeters. As expected, aerobic treatment proved to enhance the removal of biodegradable materials in the excavated solid wastes when monitoring the concentration of BOD, COD, $NH_4-N$, and $NO_3-N$ in the leachate.

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